True Grit

Do you have it? Hailee Steinfeld does in this sure to become classic Western film by Joel and Ethan Coen, based on the novel by Charles Portis. Not having seen the original film starring John Wayne, I went in without assumptions and was pleased, as always, by a film well-done. While not my favorite Coen film *cough*NoCountryForOldMen*coughcough* I was taken in by Steinfeld's character, Mattie Ross, with her assertiveness and innocent determination. Even more believable is Jeff Bridges in his role as Rooster Cogburn. Another Oscar-worthy performance by a scene-stealing actor. The film leads you to believe that it is Rooster Cogburn that has the grit with his greasy hair and character, missing right eye and unabashed sense for shooting his gun. This is in stark contract to Matt Damon's character, LeBouf, who seems to like shining his Texas Ranger badge more than taking in his surroundings. He gets caught off guard not only by Mattie's frankness, but also by a bunch of outlaws. His vulnerability makes you wonder how he ever made it out of Texas across the open country alive, much less in pursuit of Josh Brolin's dangerously dumb character and Mattie's father's killer, Tom Chaney.

Between Mattie's youth, Cogburn's drinking and Lebouf's jawing, it doesn't seem likely that the three will ever catch Chaney. A great story told by two of the greatest film directors alive with an all-star cast that is great to see again and again.

Black Swan

This may be my new favorite movie. The pull that Natalie Portman had on the audience was Oscar-worthy. Not only did she go through rigorous training in order to become a believable dancer, but her anxiety was truly felt as she attempted to fill a role that was outside of her character's artistic spectrum. This is definitely a film that you have to be prepared for. The level of anxiousness that is conveyed not only by Portman's acting, but also by Darren Aronofsky's brilliant direction will keep you on the edge of your seat, helplessly trying to anticipate the next move. It will leave you with more questions about the film and your personal reality than you sat down with. In which case, the appropriate title of "Black Swan" becomes a pun, blurring the lines between ballet and statistical anomalies. Very well done and worth seeing more than once.